Do Publishers Often Ask for Free Articles

AnneMarble · Mar 6, 2008

Recently, a small e-publisher contacted me for permission to reprint one of my articles on their web site. (They have a page where they spotlight a writing-related article.) I guess it's no big deal to me, but the request raised some questions for me. This is an article that I sold to a large writing site. It's still up at that site, but I do have the rights to allow others to reprint it. It would be nice if I could be paid for it again, but I know that's unlikely as people can still read the full article for free on the original site. Also, in the past, I have let people reprint the article for free in Romance Writer of America newsletters, etc.

On the other hand, I see commercial sites such as publishers in a different light. Sure, the publisher offered to include a link to my site in return. This would be great if I were a published author looking for publicity. However, I'm not -- yet. I don't really have a site of my own. (I did have a blog, but it's in hiatus.) I do write columns for another site, and I might include that site's link as a favor, but I'm not even sure it will generate that much publicity. This could be a great opportunity if I were interested in placing a book with this publisher, but while they're respectable, there are others I'm more interested in.

So is this common? Do small publishers (and for that matter, large ones) often ask permission to reprint articles for free? If they like the article so much, can't they just give people the link? The writing resources site could always use the potential ad revenue from people reading the article on their site. And couldn't they offer to pay for articles or even (gasp) ask me to write something new for their site? Or am I getting too annoyed over this?

Dale Emery · Mar 6, 2008

I use The Principle of Least Regrets to set my consulting fees (I'll connect this to your situation in a minute): I set my price so that my regret would be about same whether they accept my offer or reject it. If I lose the job, I'll regret missing out on the fee, and (if the job offers learning or some other enjoyment) I'll regret missing out on the experience. If I get the job, I'll regret that I won't get to do whatever else I might have done with my time, and (if the job seems onerous in some way) I'll regret the work itself. So I set my fee so that the regret is about the same either way.

Now: How much would you regret giving this publisher the right to publish your article for free? How much would you regret not having it published on their site? Could you ask for a small, token fee -- say $10 or $5, or even $1? Would that affect your "balance your regrets"?

Dale

Kate Thornton · Mar 6, 2008

I have had requests for freebies - usually fiction reprints - from editors with whom I am either personally acquainted or have had a business relationship. I usually say yes for fiction reprints, and ask for a token fee if they can afford it or donate it back if they are a non-profit.

I like Dale Emery's method, particularly for non-fic.

KTC · Mar 6, 2008

I say yes for requests to reprint my poetry...but that's about it. I had a request recently to reprint for free an interview I did...I said a big no. I don't really regret not having stuff published. If someone takes the time to contact me, I feel they want the piece bad enough. My time is money. They can pay me or take my no. Even if it's a small amount. The money is nothing to me...it's the principal. I sold one article 3 times. The first time was for $200. The second was for $50. By the third time, when I was asked if they could run it for free, I thought, "Hey...I made way more on this than I need to make, but I just can't give it away for nothing." I asked for $15. They paid me. That was a couple of years ago now. Best feeling ever. What would I regret...I like that concept by the way...I would regret letting people who know better think it's okay to get what I produce for nothing. When it comes to my fiction, I put very little value on it...I'm my own worst critic...but when it comes to my freelancing stuff...my words are money. I will not do it without payment. (There have been a couple times in the very beginning I did...I regret those times. And I have written stuff for charities too...but those have been in-kind situations.) Don't let editors think it's okay to NOT pay the writer. We have it hard enough already. And believe me...it's got nothing to do with money. I write because I like writing. I don't need the money, but I do demand it... even if it's a reprint.

Dale Emery · Mar 6, 2008

Harlan Ellison calmly responds to being asked for the free use of his work.

;-)

Dale

AnneMarble · Mar 7, 2008

Thanks for the great points everyone. I'll ask them for $$$.

(I did that with one e-zine or whatever that asked for a reprint, and never heard back from them. Let's see what happens this time.)

Do Publishers Often Ask for Free Articles

AnneMarble

Nefarious Ghost Fan

Dale Emery

is way off topic

Kate Thornton

Still Happy to be Here. Or Anywhere

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Dale Emery

is way off topic

AnneMarble

Nefarious Ghost Fan